My review is split in to five sections: Writing, Plot, Worldbuilding, Characters, and X-Factor. Each section comprises of either half or one3.5 stars.

My review is split in to five sections: Writing, Plot, Worldbuilding, Characters, and X-Factor. Each section comprises of either half or one star, except X-Factor which can utilise two whole stars.

Writing 1Oliver is one of those rare writers gifted with the ability to make her prose sing. It’s not flowery or any shade of purple, but the metaphors used evoke images that complement the story. I found the back and forth nature of the narrative a little annoying, because I recognised the trick: instead of making this book completely a romance, we’re teased with flashbacks of how it came to be. I know this trick, and I’m not amused. The story would be a lot more boring if it were told linearly – instead, we’re teased chapter by chapter by a master storyteller who knows how to make you want to rush on to find out more – even if that more isn’t that interesting.

Plot .5Plot. Well. What can I say? Lena is rescued by a bunch of rebels, moves to New York and falls in love with some other guy. That’s basically it. Boring, right?

Not the way Oliver tells it. See what I said about writing above.

Characters 1Julian can go fuck himself. I’m not interested in him at all. The whole point of Lena spending time with him and developing feelings for him is to show how someone free from the cure can fall in love with anyone – even some guy who’s not the one you expect her to be in love with forever. Just because Lena’s uncured doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s going to find monogamous love with Alex with no other hurdles.

Raven on the other hand – may I have more? She was all kinds of awesome – a tough mother figure who’s only a few years older than Lena. She tells it like it is and won’t bullshit anyone – she’ll tell you what you don’t want to hear because she knows the truth can hurt, but the hurting truth is better than sweet lies. I appreciated this trait.

But Lena! Lena has grown and changed into someone I can admire. She’s smart and plans well, and overcomes many hurdles that get in her way. When she recovers from a near dead experience she works hard to regain her strength. When left with no other option, she will lash out. I like her.

World building .5Not much more of this world is built on than in the first novel, but the Wilds is explored more. There’s more of the Wilds than anyone living in the cities realised. The tension is increased by introducing another faction to fight the cured – Scavengers, the bad version of the Invalids.

X Factor .5Oliver’s got a musical quality to her prose that makes it easy and a joy to read.

This review doesn’t follow my five basic points of writing, plot, character, worldbuilding and X Factor for two reasons. The first reason is because tThis review doesn’t follow my five basic points of writing, plot, character, worldbuilding and X Factor for two reasons. The first reason is because this is my first graphic novel and it’s different to reviewing books. You take into account more than just those points: there’s also the illustration, the colouring, the flow of action on the page and how it leaps to life in your head.

The second reason is because this is an adaptation of novel by the same name, and even though it’s adapted and written by one person and illustrated and drawn by others, my five points relate to the imagination and talent of the writer. When you adapt an idea that belongs to someone else I can’t judge the writing, the plot, the characters, and the worldbuilding. Those things all relate to the original writer, not the adapter and the illustrator. It’d be different if it was an original comic, like Kick-Ass or V for Vendetta. Those points would all belong to the writer, or the team of writers.

Instead, here I am reviewing a graphic novel based on a novel I already loved.

So how did it perform?

I thought it was wonderful. I really loved seeing the characters from a novel I loved come to life like that. I still have issues with Rose: I think she’s vain and too self-important, but her dedication to Lissa (lol) is really sweet. I love their friendship.

For the most part I loved how the characters were drawn. The illustration by Emma Vieceli was really beautiful. She’s a very talented artist. I’ve wanted these graphic novels since I saw teasers posted on the internet way back in 2010. I think Rose is pretty with just the right amount of sass. I finally see how Dimitri is hot (more on that below).

The problems I do have are with the vampires. Like the covers to the Bloodlines series, I think the problem with representing something so unearthly and perfect is actually representing it – by that specifically I mean on Bloodlines they clearly use human models (because you know, vampires don’t exist) to represent vampires and they just don’t look as good as they do in my head. I think Lissa was drawn too plain to be the beautiful Moroi princess I read about. I think something was off about Christian, too. He didn’t seem as edgy as he was in my head.

But that moment when Rose goes to Dimitri about Lissa and he’s just stepped out of the shower?

WHOM!

That was the noise of my jaw dropping.

(sorry baby, I do love you, you know that.)

But seriously girls, my imagination is not as good as Vieceli’s drawing. He was HOT.

I like them tall, you know.

Unlike the novel, I didn’t get the romantic aspect between Rose and Dimitri. There’s too much of it going on in Rose’s head. It needs more text to convey her feelings, those glances, the heat. It didn’t translate too well to the page. So when they finally succumb to the charm, I thought that is was way too fast and unexpected.

It was much the same about Lissa and Christian’s relationship. A few panels can’t convey a relationship it takes and entire book to develop. Good thing I’ve already read the novels.

The other thing I didn’t like was Lissa’s rescue. The action was all over in a single page. That included summaries from Rose’s narration and the action. It was over too quick. It could have been drawn out over another page. But hey, I don’t know anything about writing graphic novels and maybe there was limited room. Whatever.

Other than that, the action flowed well for the most part. I was pretty into reading it and skimmed over a few parts, forcing myself to go back and read it more carefully. It absorbed me and it was pretty thrilling to see someone else’s interpretation on the page like that.

I think this graphic novel is an enhancement for readers who have already enjoyed (or not enjoyed, but read) the novel by Richelle Mead....more

My review is split in to five sections: Writing, Plot, Worldbuilding, Characters, and X-Factor. Each section comprises of either half or one star, excMy review is split in to five sections: Writing, Plot, Worldbuilding, Characters, and X-Factor. Each section comprises of either half or one star, except X-Factor which can utilise two whole stars.

For anyone who is confused as to why I would read a book by an author I didn’t particularly trust and whose other books I’d hated with a loathing passion – suck on my 4 star rating! You can NEVER know if you’ll enjoy a book before reading it.

Writing .5The writing overall was pretty decent. I can’t help but compare to Kate’s later books Fallen and Torment, which I loathed so violently I was almost reduced to tears upon finishing, and have not yet had the courage to continue Daniel and Luce’s story in passion or Rapture. The writing was only at times juvenile, rather than scattered through the whole book. Occasionally there was a missing word or some WTF-ery moments FOR EXAMPLE Nat and Mike managed to stop in a graveyard yet Nat follows Mike into a mausoleum at the same time (P120).

I personally prefer first person narration and I think it worked really well, even in the last chapter. It makes me wonder why Kate switched to third person for her fail of a fallen angel series. I didn’t feel the prologue and epilogue were necessary, as I don’t feel they add anything to the narrative.

Plot 1It’s not exactly original, but I freaking love plots like this. I love Mean Girl Gets Her Comeuppance. This is the third book I’ve read in recent times that revolves around this theme and I’ve realised that I WANT MORE. I absolutely love it when an author writes a character we’re supposed to loathe like Natalie, Becca from New Girl and Samantha from Before I Fall.

Characters 1Natalie was awesome. She was manipulative and conniving and ambitious and thought way, way too much of herself. She had a humungous sense of entitlement to rival any other character I’ve ever read. I thought she was great fun to read about and I especially loved reading about her demise.

Mike seemed really sweet and put together. He wasn’t awesome enough to go onto my Great YA Boys shelf, but I did like him. He was painted very realistically – he was interested in sex and knew Natalie was using it as a weapon against him. I also liked how they’d already been a couple for three years. Nice touch.

World building 1Natalie’s insanity was the most fun to read. This book was set in the real world so it didn’t take much world building – but the weaving of the backstory sure was interesting. Part of me wishes that Kate had done the big reveal somewhat earlier, but I suppose that’s part of the intrigue of reading on – because we’re desperate to know what really happened to turn Natalie the way she is. I found this book much like New Girl in that respect.

X Factor .5This book is a very short read, clocking in at only 235 pages – but it had something about it that I just wanted to keep reading and devouring Natalie’s story.

Is this the actual cover, or just a placeholder? Because you know, with Nora trying to escape Patch YET AGAIN and Patch holding her back, it really suIs this the actual cover, or just a placeholder? Because you know, with Nora trying to escape Patch YET AGAIN and Patch holding her back, it really sums up a lot of what this series is about.

BUT IT'S ROMANTIC, LISSA, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? PATCH IS ONLY THE HOTTEST GUY EVA!!!11

When a girl says no, she means no. Unless of course she means yes.

I can't decide whether or not I want to read this. Hush, Hush and Crescendo, while not the worst books I have ever read, certainly made me mad as all hell....more